Coast Guard continues response to barge oil spill

DECEMBER 18, 2012—The U.S. Coast Guard continues to respond to a fuel spill from a barge on the Kill van Kull Waterway at May’s Ship Repair Inc. near Mariner’s Harbor, Staten Island, NY.

The National Response Center notified the Coast Guard of the spill on the evening of Dec. 14 when No. 6 fuel oil began leaking from a cargo tank on the barge, Boston No. 30 at the shipyard.

The responsible party, Boston Marine Transport Inc., reported product was being transferred from Barge Boston No. 30 to Barge DBL 25, when personnel on scene noticed product was entering the water between the two barges. Boston Marine Transport Inc. personnel then applied containment boom around the two barges.

The source of the fuel spill was isolated to the #2 port tank of Boston No. 30, which was carrying 112,000 gallons.

There is currently boom around the barge. Boom has been deployed at Shooter's Island and Mays Shipyard and deployed along Kill Van Kull Waterway.

The U.S. Coast Guard, Gallagher Marine Systems, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection have established a Unified Command in response to an oil spill that occurred at Mays Ship Repair.

The Coast Guard reports that there are 51 personnel in the Unified Command, 301 contractor personnel deploying boom and recovering spilled oil, and 47,000 feet of boom deployed to protect critical areas, especially Shooter’s Island, which is a bird sanctuary.

Equipment on site includes 29 skimmers, 12 vacuum trucks, 13 storage barges and other miscellaneous equipment is working on the response.

Thus far, 156,000 gallons of oil and water mixture has been recovered.